Would Ronald Reagan recognize this Republican Party or would he say “There you go again”? Reagan takes the oath of office from Chief Warren Burger in 1985.

Would Ronald Reagan recognize this Republican Party or would he say “There you go again”? Reagan takes the oath of office from Chief Warren Burger in 1985.

Photo: SEN. PATRICK LEAHY, Associated Press

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Bennie Wilson is a senior lecturer in management at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Bennie Wilson is a senior lecturer in management at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

Photo: Helen L. Montoya, San Antonio Express-News

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GOP losing base to dogma

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SAN ANTONIO — Republican presidential icon Ronald Reagan had a very insightful, yet somewhat vicious way with words.

During the 1980 U.S. presidential election debate, the incumbent Democratic president, Jimmy Carter, berated Reagan for his opposition to Medicare and a national health insurance program. Reagan responded disarmingly, “There you go again.”

This quote came to mind when it became obvious that Republicans were again raising the “bogeyman” of Benghazi. This refers to the terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, 2012.

The criticism is a continuing jab at President Barack Obama's foreign policy and military acumen. One can hear the Great Communicator now as he interrupts the Republican Congressional Caucus, “There you go again. Stop being armchair generals, replaying past scrimmages, and focus on winning the hearts and minds of the American people in our coming battle for the presidency and Congress.”

The Republican Party is losing its conservative base. This base is not the radical and fringe tea party wing. That wing is narcissistically impressed with its own self-centeredness and with its written-in-stone pronouncements that rival the Ten Commandments.

One can visualize Ted Cruz with his wooden staff as he stumbles down the mountain with only a sliver of one tablet, which now simply reads: “Thou shalt not.”

What a shame. Cruz is obviously a very intelligent, learned politician whose communication skills rival those of the Great Communicator. But he is wasting those skills in some sort of theatrical exhibitionism, devoted to exclusion and blind dogma.

The Republican base that gets very little attention is made up of conservatives who joined the party as well-meaning, patriotic, family-oriented, fiscally sensitive, compassionate and inclusive Americans.

The result is that many conservatives leave or remain outside the Republican Party, either in fact or in disposition.

Much of the Republican leadership, however, has chosen to let its more philosophically narrow colleagues stonewall the party into a sort of destructive dismantling of truly conservative principles. These reflect a respect for others, a tolerance for differences, a proclivity for negotiation and a broadmindedness that welcomes a community of diversity.

Conservatives, both inside and outside the Republican Party, must stop the petty and dysfunctional “gotcha” orientation to what Democrats have or have not done. The real issue is, what have we conservatives done? What will we conservatives do to improve our government?

Let's stop simply being anti-Obama; stop the visceral robotic fetish against the Affordable Care Act; quit taking aim at anticipated Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton by conjuring up old news that neglects showcasing the direction our country needs to take.

Let's put up or shut up — stop whining about what has been and replace that with what ought to be. We have a message — compose it and send it.

No matter what political label one chooses, civility and respect demand that we not act contrary to personal moral compasses. This means working proactively with others with whom we might disagree to achieve a better — not perfect — national environment. It means doing this also to inspire a dialogue that reflects America's true greatness and strength.

We have had enough of fanatics and lunatics who attempt to force their wills on people of different backgrounds, religions, cultures and nationalities.

No más!

Conservatives must take the high road and get out front, away from those who, under the conservative political umbrella, would mire us in continued mediocrity and irrelevance. We need to think “big picture.” We need to think inclusion for all sectors of the electorate. And we need to preach and act beyond political dogma.

Bennie Wilson is a senior lecturer in management at the University of Texas at San Antonio.